What are flamingos natural color?

Answer 1

Their natural color varies from whitish-grey to dark crimson, depending on species and age. The greater flamingo, for instance, may be predominantly white or pale pink, but marked with patches of more reddish feathers (such as those on the wings), or it may achieve the generally much redder overall appearance of the Caribbean flamingo. Juveniles of all 6 flamingo species start off with no pink feathers, but become increasingly colorful from years 2-4 (depending on species).

The amount of coloration is dependent on the flamingos' diets, as the pink is a result of carotenoids--pigments produced by prey items such as brine-shrimp and cyanobacteria. While mature birds are generally more colorful than juveniles, there is quite a bit of variation among adults as a result of differences not only in diet, but also stress levels and overall healthiness, since these factors impact the birds' abilities to metabolize carotenoids and store them in their feathers.

Additionally, feather color will naturally fade between molts, starting off very bright when they are brand new, then becoming increasingly dull as they get worn down (as happens in all bird species). It was recently found that greater flamingos express carotenoids in their preen oil, which means that they can maintain pink coloration by wiping the bright oil on their bodies--an example of avian cosmetics. This behavior is particularly common during the breeding season, suggesting that birds want to look nice and colorful in order to impress potential mates.

Sources:

Kear, J., and Duplaix-Hall, N. 2010. Flamingos (Poyser Monographs). London: T and AD Poyser.

Amat, J.A., Rendon, M.A., Garrido-Fernandez, J., Garrido, A., Rendon-Martos, M., Perez-Galvez, A. 2011. Greater flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus use uropygial secretions as make-up. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 65:665-673.

Answer 2

flamingos are naturelly pink!

the shrimp they eat turns them this color.

the less they eat the more white they are